The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek forgiveness for our shortcomings even as we pursue our mission to share the mercy and love of Christ in an environment that may reject our efforts.
In the reading from the Book of Genesis, Joseph’s Brothers plea for forgiveness after the death of Joseph.
* [50:15–26] The final reconciliation of the brothers. Fearful of what may happen after the death of their father, the brothers engage in a final deception, inventing the dying wish of Jacob. Again, Joseph weeps, and, again, his brothers fall down before him, offering to be his slaves (44:16, 33). Joseph’s assurance is also a summation of the story: “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people” (v. 20). Joseph’s adoption of the children of Manasseh’s son Machir recalls Jacob’s adoption of his grandchildren (48:5, 13–20); the adoptions reflect tribal history (cf. Jgs 5:14). (Genesis, CHAPTER 50 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 is a hymn to God recalling God’s promises.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus implores us to have Courage Under Persecution.
* [10:25] Beelzebul: see Mt 9:34 for the charge linking Jesus with “the prince of demons,” who is named Beelzebul in Mt 12:24. The meaning of the name is uncertain; possibly, “lord of the house.”
* [10:26] The concealed and secret coming of the kingdom is to be proclaimed by them, and no fear must be allowed to deter them from that proclamation.
* [10:32–33] In the Q parallel (Lk 12:8–9), the Son of Man will acknowledge those who have acknowledged Jesus, and those who deny him will be denied (by the Son of Man) before the angels of God at the judgment. Here Jesus and the Son of Man are identified, and the acknowledgment or denial will be before his heavenly Father. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Kathy Kemler comments that in Christian life we are busy caring for others…children, parents, our ministries, being women and men for others, but we are called to more.
We are called to receive God’s love. It’s one reason why I love to go outside during the day. I look at the sky, the trees, a flower and my thoughts immediately turn to God and I am reminded of God’s love and how God is speaking to me through nature. That in turn reminds me to think about how God has given me something that day and to take a moment to look back and see what it was. It’s like a micro-Examen as it only takes a moment and I can reflect about that in walking from one building to the next. Then I can whisper a word of thanks. (Kemler, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Do not bewail death - but sin,” by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD).
"The gospel is life. Impiety and infidelity are the death of the soul. So then, if the soul can die, how then is it yet immortal? Because there is always a dimension of life in the soul that can never be extinguished. And how does it die? Not in ceasing to be life but by losing its proper life. For the soul is both life to something else, and it has it own proper life. Consider the order of the creatures. The soul is the life of the body. God is the life of the soul. As the life that is the soul is present with the body, that the body may not die, so the life of the soul (God) ought to be with the soul that it may not die."
"How does the body die? By the departure of the soul. I say, by the departure of the soul the body dies, and it lies there as a mere carcass, what was a little before a lively, not a contemptible, object. There are in it still its several members, the eyes and ears. But these are merely the windows of the house; its inhabitant is gone. Those who bewail the dead cry in vain at the windows of the house. There is no one there within it to hear... Why is the body dead? Because the soul, its life, is gone. But at what point is the soul itself dead? When God, its life, has forsaken it... This then we can know and hold for certain: the body is dead without the soul, and the soul is dead without God. Every one without God has a dead soul. You who bewail the dead rather should bewail sin. Bewail ungodliness. Bewail disbelief." (excerpt from SERMON 65.5-7) (Schwager, n.d.)
In the Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26 Jesus tells his disciples—three times—“Do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31). They are about to head out on their first missionary journey, so he reassures them that his Father will protect them and care for their needs. Even though they are weak and sinful disciples, just like the rest of us, God loves them deeply and will not turn his back on them. Even if they were to fail in their mission, he will continue to love them.
Don’t be afraid! Let Jesus reassure you that nothing you can do or say could ever cause him to reject you. No matter what you are concerned about, he is always ready to run out and embrace you with his overflowing love and mercy.
“Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so completely!”(Meditation on Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that in the Genesis passage Jacob has come down to Egypt and asks to be buried in the tomb of Isaac and Sarah. When he dies the brothers fear Joseph will punish the, but he leaves punishment to God and seeks similar burial. Jesus said the apostles will suffer but God will protect them. Trust in Providence to provide the needs of their mission. In persecution, trust in the help of God. Friar Jude reminds us of the “martyrdom of pinpricks” through which God sees this as an opportunity for grace transformed by love.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces theologian Megan McKenna who reflects on the tale of Jonah as a modern-day parable of repentance. Jonah was so angry at YHWH’s mercy that he wanted to die, knowing that the turn of events would ruin his credibility at home!… YHWH rebuked him, expressing [God’s] concern for the people of Nineveh.
What if [Christians in the United States were sent] a Buddhist prophet who lamented our insistence on the right to manufacture and keep on “ready-alert status” millions of nuclear weapons, defense missile systems, radioactive and depleted uranium bullets, and land mines? What if the prophet declared that our weapons and our covert low-intensity war policies at home and around the world were destroying any possibility of world harmony and that within forty days we would all be destroyed? Suddenly Jonah’s position isn’t so laughable but is, rather, worthy of a serious call to examine our national conscience. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are in a time where persecution and forgiveness are very present in our society and we need to invoke the Spirit as our guide to action as sheep among wolves.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 50 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/50
Kemler, K. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-12-2025
Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?24
Meditation on Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/07/12/1330043/
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/jonah-and-gods-scandalous-mercy-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jul12
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